A Tree and A Butterfly

Fluttershy, with the assistance of Big Macintosh, had just finished cooking up Red Wood's breakfast, which was no mean feat in any stretch of the imagination. In fact to even cook the food she first had to have a massive fire pit built on her property, along with custom grill grates, skillet, and appropriate utensils; all of which was constructed by the Apple Family, a whole two weeks before the initial visit as a matter of fact. Now, it goes without saying that even with the Apple Family offering her a generous discount for the labor, the overall job was still quite taxing on the purse, and Fluttershy still had to procure food to feed Red Wood for the latter's visit, but fortunately that expense was covered for her. Three days before Red Wood arrived a fleet of deliver carts came a knocking at Fluttershy's doorstep, each cart carrying giant size food, drinks, and even other necessities like cups, spoons, plates, forks, knives, and the appropriate tools required to clean such massive chain and utensils. Fluttershy was beyond surprised, and when the deliver pony handed her the invoice, he also gave her a set of letters, all of them from the First Crystal Queen, Zenith Alembic; Red Wood's former employer when she served under the former's rule as the White Wall of the Crystal Empire.

The first letter read as such;

Dear Ms. Fluttershy,

I hope that these items assist greatly in your hostess duties, and please do not hesitate to request anything else you may be lacking in order to make my former guardian as comfortable as possible; she is really lucky to have a friend like you.

Sincerely, Zenith Alembic.

P.S. The second letter is for Red Wood, and the third letter is for you. I recommend you read the third letter before giving the second to Red Wood.

When she read the third letter, Fluttershy was a tad confused, but thought nothing of it, "Perhaps this will make sense after Red Wood reads the second letter," Fluttershy rationalized. In any event, she was truly thankful for Zenith's assistance, and thinking back, she knew that none of this could be possible otherwise; she owes her a lot. As soon as Big Macintosh masterfully placed the eggs, bacon, and hay fries on the massive plate, Fluttershy went to the backyard to wake Red Wood, and inform her that breakfast was ready. However, when Fluttershy reached Red Wood she was greeted by a cute, and comical, spectacle, for Red Wood held in her hooves the same brown bear from the other day, this time really like a teddy bear. Seems in some manner Red Wood grabbed the poor creature late last night, and has held him close to her, cuddling him like a foal would their favorite stuffed toy, and any attempt to flee was meet with a sudden tightening of the embrace; Fluttershy quietly snickered, and wished she had a camera.

The brown bear gazed into Fluttershy's eyes, as if saying, "Help me," as he struggled in vain to escape Red Wood's iron clad grip, and after some more laughing, Fluttershy did. Not quite sure how to go about it, Fluttershy opted to tickle Red Wood's nose with her wings, which proved effective, for with each light graze Red Wood stirred ever so, until at last one of her eyes cracked open lazily.

"I'm sorry, but it is time to get up Red Wood....um, if that is okay with you, I mean," Fluttershy said timidly, as Red Wood's eyes opened in full, and she let out a loud yawn that could have been confused with a fog horn.

"Good morning, Fluttershy," Red Wood said sluggishly, as she rose up, still holding the brown bear, though sadly not with the same strong grip, for before she reached her complete height she dropped the poor creature. "Whoops, sorry Mr. Bear."

The bear however didn't seem to care, for the very moment he was out of her grip he made it his mission to get out of range of Red Wood's reach as fast as possible.

"Odd, what's eating him?" Red Wood inquired, the bear's reaction perplexing her.

"Who knows?" Fluttershy retorted with a slight chuckle. "Anyway, breakfast is ready, you'd best hurry before it gets cold."

"Understood, you mind if I freshen up a little first...If that is okay, of course," Red Wood said shyly.

"That's no problem at all," Fluttershy said, as she directed Red Wood to a colossal stone basin filled with fresh water, flanked by a pair of soft, crimson, cotton towels, a humongous bar of soap, a tree size hairbrush, and a massive tooth brush with a tube of toothpaste. "Once you're ready just follow a ways back."

"I have to say, I'm amazed at how prepared you are, this all must have costed a pretty bit," Red Wood said splashing water on her face as she lathered up the soap.

"Well I can't take all the credit, Queen Zenith assisted in procuring the majority of the items," Fluttershy said blushing in embarrassment.

"Her majesty did that? Really?" Red Wood said with a mouthful of toothpaste. "That was incredibly generous of her. I assume she sent some letters along with the invoice? Was there one meant for me?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Fluttershy said a tad bewildered by Red Wood's spot on observation.

"May I see it, please?" Red Wood asked as she brushed her mane, Fluttershy marveling at its shimmering beauty and radiance.

"I'll fetch it after breakfast," Fluttershy promised.

"I appreciate it, all of it for that matter," Red Wood said giving herself a quick once over, and feeling satisfied, followed Fluttershy a few yards back from her house to  small clearing where Big Macintosh had the food all laid out. "Wow! What a spread! Roc eggs over easy with a side of bacon and hay fries, and is that...No way, it can't be...It is! Honey pickled peaches, score!"

Red Wood was so thrilled she could do a back flip, fortunately she didn't, but man was she happy. Big Macintosh, though not showing it, was amazed by Red Wood's size, but even more so by her personality, it was more childish than he expected, and yet still radiated a level of maturity he had to respect.

"Excuse me, but are you the chief?" Red Wood asked staring at Big Macintosh with a curious expression.

"Yep," Big Macintosh replied with a smile.

"I am most thankful. My name is Red Wood, and you are?" Red Wood inquired.

"Big Macintosh, but my friends call me Big Mac," Big Macintosh replied.

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Big Macintosh," Red Wood said, awkwardly offering her massive right hoof for a shake.

"Likewise, but you can call me Big Mac," Big Macintosh retorted, hoof bumping Red Wood rather than attempting to shake her huge hoof.

"I...I can? Is that really okay?" Red Wood asked, to which Big Macintosh nodded as a response. "Does that make use friends then?"

"Yep," Big Macintosh said. "Now dig in 'fore it gets cold."

"Oh right, sorry," Red Wood said, snapping back to attention.

Sitting down before her plate, Red Wood thanked Fluttershy and Big Macintosh one final time then partook in the delicious spread, and in every way it was more exquisite than she could have hoped for. Baring the pickled peaches, all the food was decimated infinitely faster than it took to prepare, and while the daunting task of cleaning the mess was no lost to them it was well worth it to see the beaming expression Red Wood gave once she finished. Collecting all the dirty dishes in a wagon, Big Macintosh pulled them towards a larger wooden bucket filled with water and soap, and when they dropped the dishes inside, Fluttershy commenced scrubbing them clean with a set of brushes attached to her hooves; it was arguably more fun than she had originally anticipated. Though Red Wood really wanted to assist, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh did not accept, saying that she was a guest, and guests aren't expected to do chores. Once the dishes were all clean and dried, Big Macintosh bid them goodbye, and while Red Wood was sad to see him leave so soon, she didn't dwell on that feeling and instead said, "Hope to see you again."

"So, may I see that letter now, if that is okay?" Red Wood asked Fluttershy after waving goodbye to Big Macintosh.

"Of course, follow me," Fluttershy said as she lead them back to her house, and stepped inside to fetch the letter. "Here you go."

"Um, I'm sorry, but could you open it for me, please?" Red Wood said with a flustered expression.

"Oh right," Fluttershy replied, realizing just how silly she was, as she torn open the envelope.

Upon ripping it open a sharp pop followed as a magenta array manifested on the envelope, and in a blinding flash of violet light the letter shot out of its container an grew to the size of a ship's sail. Thanking Fluttershy for undoing the magic binding, Red Wood took the large letter, and skimmed through it, all the while nodding her head in an agreeable fashion.

"Um, if you don't mind my asking, and it is totally okay if you do, but what does that letter say exactly?" Fluttershy said immediately cringing as soon as she finished saying her sentence, half expecting Red Wood to object.

"Hmm? Oh sure, it is nothing really all that exciting, just a bill," Red Wood said casually, but Fluttershy was completely confused by this statement.

"Bill? For what? From whom?" Fluttershy asked truly bewildered.

"From her majesty of course, and it is for all the items she sent. Comes up to a little over three thousand bits," Red Wood said, again super casually, as if three thousand bits wasn't a large sum in the slightest. "I'll be sure to pay her immediately upon my return to the Crystal Empire. Still though, it was so nice of her to remember the bill this time, I just hate badgering her for it every time."

"But wait, you mean you actually pay for things that are meant as gifts?" Fluttershy queried, this concept so foreign it was practically other worldly.

"Of course, this isn't a charity, and in all honesty I could, and I should, have bought all these items myself, but I knew her majesty wouldn't have approved of me throwing out my back carting it all here from the Crystal Empire," Red Wood said passionately, as she rolled up the letter, and laid it beside her helmet. "If one has the means to acquire something then they shouldn't rely on others to do it for them. Such acts should be reserved for the truly needed, don't you agree?"

"To a point, but you shouldn't view gift giving as simply a charity. It is a way for one to express their care for another in a manner words cannot always describe," Fluttershy said, causing Red Wood to now adopt a perplexed expression.

"I don't know, I mean it sounds logical, but at the same time contradicting," Red Wood said as she tried to wrap her head around this point of view. "If one cannot put their feelings into words, how can a simple item illustrate that? I'm sorry, but it sounds flawed to me."

"It's okay, you don't have to understand it right away, but do keep it in mind when we go to town later. You might be surprised by what you see," Fluttershy said with a tender smile, but immediately frowned when she saw Red Wood cock her head to the side, her eyes almost looking like they were about to cry. "Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry if I did."

"No, no, it is nothing you did, it's just...it's just...You think the town will be all that happy to see me after yesterday?" Red Wood said, as the memories of her previous encounter with Ponyville came rushing back. "Everypony was terrified of me, and I can't really blame them. I mean just look at me, I'm taller than most houses, and stronger than any train. I wouldn't be surprised if they even called me a monster."

"Now you stop right there!" Fluttershy shouted uncharacteristically, as she shot up to meet Red Wood eye to eye. "You are no monster, and I never want to her that word pass your lips again. You got that?"

"Yes ma'am," Red Wood quickly retorted with a salute, and nervous expression.

"Good, and don't worry about the town. Me and the others will make sure that they see nothing but your positive qualities," Fluttershy said as she hugged Red Wood's right cheek.

"Thanks Fluttershy, you really are kind," Red Wood replied, as she gently rested her left hoof over Fluttershy; her own way of reciprocating the hug.

"I'm always here for a friend," Fluttershy said with a soft and soothing tone. "However, just to be on the safe side, let's leave the helmet."

"Deal," Red Wood said with a slight snicker, as she kicked her blanket over the intimidating helmet.